Tension device



Oct. 30, 1956 N. G. JOHNSTON ET AL 2,768,798

TENSION DEVICE Filed May 25, 1955 INVENTORS flTTOZEWE;

United States Patent TENSION DEVICE Norman G. Johnston, Pequannack, and John T. Young,

Wayne, N. J., assignors to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application May 25, 1955, Serial No. 511,039

6 Claims. (Cl. 242-156) The present invention relates to fine wire manufacturing and coil winding machines for incandescent lamps and, more particularly to a wire tension device for such machines.

In the drawing of fine refractory type wires or the processing of fine threads of nylon, silk, or cotton ranging in size from .0002 to .009 in diameter, it is necessary (to avoid breakage thereof) to maintain a constant predetermined tension, for example, in the range of 10 to 300 grams. None of the conventional tension devices, such as exemplified by U. S. Patent No. 2,419,372 entitled Tension Device Arrangement for Winding Systems, issued April 22, 1947, to Everett J. Schneider and assigned to Sylvania Electric Products Inc., are capable of supplying the desired constant tension in ranges as low as this or of constantly indicating this load while in operation. It is necessary to vary this tension as spool becomes lighter in weight.

Hence, it has been found advantageous according to the invention to provide a tension device for applying a predetermined adjustable tension in the order of 10-300 grams to wire (silk, nylon or cotton) being drawn, reeled or wound. The tension device of the invention has a common shaft which is journalled in the side walls of a container containing a viscous fluid, such as oil, and carries, for example, a wire reel or bobbin. The inner portions of the shaft carry a plurality of spaced circular discs or rotatable discs which are approximately half submerged in the viscous fluid. In the spaces between the rotatable discs, a like number of stationary sector discs or friction discs are variably insertable by a fluid friction or tension control mechanism. The stationary sector discs are fixed to the friction disc shaft in a predetermined angular offset arrangement. The shaft is journalled in the side walls of the container. This control mechanism comprises a shaft extending through the side wall of the container and carrying a worm in engagement with a pinion gear on the sector disc shaft. By varying the amount of space between the rotatable discs through the insertion of the friction discs therein, the proper oil friction is obtained to give a desired tension on the wire or thread being drawn, reeled, or coiled. A torsion spring-biased tension arm shaft is journalled on a suitable bracket upstanding from the outer side walls of the container. A tension arm is fixed to the tension arm shaft and carries a hydraulic stabilizer assembly consisting of a yoke, a pair of downwardly depending rods reciprocable in suitable bearings in the top of the container and a series of stabilizer discs or plates carried on the lower portions of the rods and submerged in the viscous fluid. The hydraulic stabilizer essentially eliminates any sudden jar or pull which might occur during removal of the wire or thread from the spools or bobbins or during operation of the device due to improper spooling. The elimination of sudden jars or jerks will prevent breakage of the fine refractory type wire being processed.

In its general aspect the present invention has as its objective a tension device for fine wire processing machinery and capable of applying a constant predetermined tension in the order of 10 to 300 grams to fine wire having a diameter in the range of .0002" to .009".

An object of the invention is a viscous rotary damping system having a tension arm and an hydraulic stabilizer for eliminating any sudden jars to a wire being processed.

A still further object is a viscous rotary damping system comprising a plurality of circular discs rotatable in a viscous fluid and stationary interleaving sector discs inserted therebetween to provide fluid friction therebetween and hence constant predetermined values of the resultant wire tension in the order of 10-300 grams.

An additional object is a tension device for wire processing apparatus comprising a container for viscous fluid, a circular disc shaft journalled in said container and carrying a plurality of circular discs rotatable in said viscous fluid and a wire reel outside said container, a stationary disc shaft journalled in said container and carrying a plurality of sector discs which are insertable into the fluid filled spaces between said circular discs, a fluid friction control mechanism extending through said container and for adjusting the interleaving relationship between said circular discs and said sector discs and a hydraulic stabilizer on said container for preventing sudden pulls on or jars to the wire which may result in breakage thereof.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it appertains as the description thereof proceeds both by direct recitation and implication from the context.

Referring now to the drawing in which like numerals of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the tension device of the invention.

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the tension device of Fig. 1 and showing particularly a tension arm assembly and a wire reel of the tension device.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the tension device along the lines IIIIII of Fig. 2 in the direction of the arrows and showing particularly the rotatable circular discs, stationary friction discs, fluid friction control mechanism and the hydraulic stabilizer.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the tension device along the line IVIV of Figure 3 in the direction of the arrows and showing the rotatable discs and the hydraulic stabilizer.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view along line VV of Fig. 3 of the tension device and showing particularly the interleaved relationship between the rotatable discs and the stationary sector discs thereof.

Referring now in detail to the drawing and more particularly to Fig. 1, the reference numeral 10 designates a tension device of the invention. This tension device 10 comprises a container 12 partially filled with a vitreous fluid 14 (Figs. 3 and 4), suitably such as oil SAE 10 to SAE 60 having a viscosity at F. in the range of to 1300 SSU (Saybolt seconds universal) units.

Circular disc and reel assembly A combination reel and circular disc shaft 16 is suitably journalled in the side Walls of the container 12 and is provided with suitable oil seals therein (not shown). This shaft 16 extends through the side wall of the container 12 and carries on the outer portion thereof a reel or bobbin 18 for fine wire or thread 20 having diameters in the range of .0002 to .009 (Figs. 1 and 2). The shaft 16 (Figs. 1 through 4) carries a plurality, for example 5, circular discs 22 which rotate approximately half submerged in the viscous fluid 14 and are suitably spaced about .060" apart.

Sector disc assembly As shown particularly in Figs. 3 and 5, a normally stationary sector disc shaft 24 is suitably journalled in the side walls of the container 12. This shaft 24 carries a plurality of stationary friction or sector discs 26, 6 in the present showing of Fig. 5, which are submerged in the viscous fluid 14 and are adjustably interleaved with the revolving circular discs 22. As shown in Fig. 3 particularly, the sector discs 26 are mounted on the shaft 24 in a predetermined angular offset pattern so that a finer or more accurate control is achieved over the amount of inserted or interleaved area of the friction discs 26. The shaft 24 also carries fixed thereon a suitable pinion gear 28 of a fluid friction control mechanism 30.

Fluid friction control mechanism In addition to the gear 28 the fluid friction control mechanism 30 consists of a horizontal shaft 32, suitably journalled in the side Walls of container 12 and provided with a suitable oil seal therein. The shaft 32 extends into the viscous fluid 14 within the container 12 and carries a worm 36 thereon (Fig. 3) for engagement with the gear 28 on the sector discs shaft 24. The fluid friction control mechanism shaft 32 is provided with an adjustment knob 38 on the left hand portion thereof when viewed in Fig. 3.

It will be understood that when the knob 38 and the fluid friction control mechanism shaft 32 are rotated in a counterclockwise direction the gear 28 and hence the sector disc shaft 24 and the stationary friction discs 26 are rotated likewise in a counterclockwise direction. Portions of the stationary friction sector discs 26 (as desired) are then interleaved between the rotating circular discs 22 so that the amount of space or gap between the rotating discs 22 is reduced and thus the oil friction therebetwcen increased. In like manner the increase in the oil friction between the revolving discs 22 increases desirably the amount of tension on the wire or thread 20, as hereinafter explained.

Tension arm assembly A tension arm assembly of the tension device has an upstanding mounting bracket 42 secured, as by bolts or screws, to the upper portion of the left hand end walls (when viewed in Figs. 1 and 3) of the viscous fluid container 12 and suitably provided with a bifurcated upper end 43. This bracket carries an indicator 44 of the tension arm assembly. The tension arm assembly has a tension arm shaft 46 suitably journalled in the bifurcated upper end 43 of the mounting bracket 42. This shaft 46 carries a tension arm mounting collar 50 between the bifurcations 48 and an indicator pointer mounting collar 52 on the outer end thereof adjacent to the indicator 44. As shown in Fig. 2 the tension arm shaft 46 also carries a torsion spring anchor collar 54 on the left hand side of the bifurcations 48 (when viewed in Fig. 2) to which is secured one end of a tension spring 56. The other end of the spring 56 is secured, as by welding, to the tension arm shaft 46.

It will be understood from a consideration of Figs. 1, 2 and 3 that the tension arm mounting collar 50 carries a tension arm 60 secured therein, as by a screw. The indicator pointer mounting collar 52 likewise carries a pointer 62, suitably parallel to the tension arm 60 and contiguous to a suitable calibrated indicator scale on the indicator 44.

It will be understood from a consideration of Fig. 2 that the tension arm 60 is generally L-shaped in configuration and carries on its relatively short or transverse arm on the right hand end thereof (when viewed in Fig. l) a torsion arm guide roller 64. As shown particularly in Figs. 1 and 3 a guide rollermounting bracket 68 is secured by suitable bolts to the outer portions of the right 4 hand end wall (Fig. l) of the viscous fluid container 12. This bracket 68 carries a roller shaft 70 (Fig. 2) on its right hand end when viewed in Fig. 1. A guide roller 72 rotates on the shaft 70 and is retained thereon by means, such as a cotter pin.

Hydraulic stabilizer A hydraulic stabilizer is connected to the torsion arm 60 near its mid-point by means of a link 82 extending through the torsion arm 60 and a lug on a yoke 84 of the stabilizer 80. A pair of rods 86 depending from the yoke 84 extend through suitable bearings 88 (Fig. 3) in the cover of the container 12 and into the viscous fluid 14 in the bottom of the container 12. The rods 86 have a plurality of stabilizer plates, 4 in number in the present showing of Fig. 3 which are secured in substantially parallel arrangement to the bottom portions thereof.

Operation The wire or thread 20 extends from the reel 18 over a torsion arm guide roller 64 and under the guide roller 72 on the bracket 68 to a wire or thread processing machine (not shown). The wire or thread 20 is pulled by the wire processing machine (not shown). To achieve a desired tension in the range, for example, between 10- 300 grams, the pointer .62 and the tension arm 60 on the tension arm shaft 46 are adjusted with respect to the calibrated scale on the indicator 44 by means of the control knob 33 of the fluid friction control mechanism 30. Rotation of the .knob 38 in a counterclockwise direction inserts a larger area, as desired, of the stationary friction discs 26 into the spaces between the rotating circular discs 22.

Reduction of the space or gap between the rotating circular discs 22 increases the oil friction therebetween and hence resistance of the rotation of the discs 22 and reel shaft 16. Thus the tension in grams on the wire or thread 20 being pulled to the wire processing machine (not shown) is also increased.

In like-manner clockwise rotation of the knob 38 of the fluid friction control mechanism 30 retracts the stationary friction discs 26 from the spaces between the revolving circular discs 22, thus reducing the oil friction therebetween and decreasing the tension in grams on the wire or thread 20.

If for any reason the wire or thread 20 is subjected to ,a sudden jar or pull (which often occurs when the wire or thread is being removed or .when the wire or thread is being spooled thereon) the hydraulic stabilizer 80 carried by the torsion arm 60 cushions the thread 20 from such a jar or pull. In this .way, the wire or thread 20 is protected from breakage.

7 Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it will be understood that modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of the invention.

' We claim:

1. A tension device for a wire processing apparatus comprising a container .of viscous fluid, a reel and circular disc assembly rotatable in said container and in said fluid, a normally stationary and adjustable sector disc assembly rotatable in said container contiguous to said reel and circular :discs assembly and variably interleavable with said reel and circular disc assembly to vary the fluid friction between said rotating reel and circular disc assembly and said fluid, and a fluid friction control mechanism extending through said container adjacent to said sector disc assembly and for controlling the interleaved relationship between said rotatable reel and circular discassernbly and said sector disc assembly.

2. A tension device for a vwire processing apparatus comprising a containerof viscous fluid, a reel and circular disc assembly rotatable in said container and in said fluid, a no rrnally stationary and adjustable sector disc assembly rotatable in said container contiguous to said reel and circular disc assembly and vvariably interleavable with said reel and circular disc assembly to vary the fluid friction between said rotating reel and circular disc assembly and said fluid, a fluid friction control mechanism extending through said container adjacent to said sector disc assembly and for controlling the interleaved relationship between said rotatable reel and circular disc assembly and said sector disc assembly and a tension arm assembly on said container for tensioning a fine wire being processed.

3. A tension device for a wire processing apparatus comprising a container of viscous fluid, a reel and circul-ar disc assembly rotatable in said container and in said fluid, a normally stationary and adjustable sector disc assembly rotatable in said container contiguous to said reel and circular disc assembly and variably interleavable with said reel and circular disc assembly to vary the fluid friction between said rotating reel and circular disc assembly and said fluid, a fluid friction control mechanism extending through said container adjacent to said sector disc assembly and for controlling the interleaved relationship between said rotatable reel and circular disc assembly and said sector disc assembly, a tension arm assembly on said container for tensioning a fine wire being processed and a hydraulic stabilizer on said tension arm assembly for preventing sudden pulls on and resultant breakage of said Wire.

4. A tension device for a wire processing apparatus comprising a container of viscous fluid, a reel and circu lar disc assembly rotatable in said container and in said fluid, said reel and circular disc assembly comprising a reel and disc shaft journalled in said container, a plurality of circular discs on said reel and disc shaft and a wire reel on said reel and disc shaft outside said container, a normally stationary and adjustable sector disc assembly rotatable in said container contiguous to said reel and circular disc assembly and variably interleavable with said reel and circular disc assembly to vary the fluid friction between said rotating reel and circular disc assembly and said fluid and a fluid friction control mechanism extending through said container adjacent to said sector disc assembly and for controlling the interleaved relationship between said rotatable reel and circular disc assembly and said sector disc assembly.

5. A tension device for a wire processing apparatus comprising a container of viscous fluid, a reel and circular disc assembly rotatable in said container and in said fluid, a normally stationary and adjustable sector disc assembly rotatable in said container contiguous to said reel and circular disc assembly and variably interleavable with said reel and circular disc assembly to vary the fluid friction between said rotating reel and circular disc assembly and said fluid, said sector disc assembly com prising a sector disc shaft journalled in said container, and a plurality of normally stationary sector discs on said sector disc shaft and a fluid friction control mechanism extending through said container adjacent to said sector disc assembly and for controlling the interleaved relationship between said rotatable reel and circular disc assembly and said sector disc assembly.

6. A tension device for a wire processing apparatus comprising a container of viscous fluid, a reel and circular disc assembly rotatable in said container and in said fluid, a normally stationary and adjustable sector disc assembly rotatable in said container contiguous to said reel and circular disc assembly and variably interleavable with said reel and circular disc assembly to vary the fluid friction between said rotating reel and circular disc assembly and said fluid, said sector disc assembly having at least a sector disc shaft journalled in said container, and a fluid friction control mechanism extending through said container adjacent to said sector disc assembly and for controlling the interleaved relationship between said rotatable reel and circular disc assembly and said sector disc assembly, said fluid friction control mechanism comprising a control mechanism shaft journalled in said container, a pinion gear on said sector disc shaft and a worm on said control mechanism shaft in engagement with said pinion gear.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,228,215 Junkers May 29, 1917 1,238,447 Severy Aug. 28, 1917 2,605,061 Howe July 29, 1952 

